Publish date: 5 May 2026
Tuesday, 5 May marks the annually celebrated International Day of the Midwife.
Blackpool Teaching Hospitals are celebrating the hard work and dedication of all our midwifery colleagues today and have interviewed four of our midwifery colleagues to give you an insight into their roles.
To celebrate international day of the midwife we spoke with four midwives at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals.
Read their stories here:
Maternity Matron celebrates 30 years as a Blackpool midwife
Throughout her career, Lisa has worked across a wide range of maternity services, including on the delivery suite and ward at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, and spending 10 years working in the community. She has now been in her role as a Maternity Matron for the past three years.
Reflecting on her three decades in midwifery, Lisa says she is most proud of her work as a specialist midwife for substance misuse. “This is probably the work that I'm most proud of because we know that there are challenges in Blackpool with drug and alcohol use.
“When I was the specialist midwife we set up a service with partner agencies for pregnant women misusing drugs and alcohol which provided a one stop shop to services and resources. This was recognised through the achievement of two national awards and has seen a positive trend in a reduced number of babies needing treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome.”
In her current role as a Matron, Lisa continues to champion maternity services that address key public health priorities and improve outcomes and reduce inequalities for local families. This includes work to increase breastfeeding rates, reduce smoking rates, support parental mental health, and promote vaccinations.
On International Day of the Midwife, Lisa also wanted to recognise the dedication of colleagues across maternity services. Lisa added: “I’m incredibly proud of the amazing team around me. I want to say thank you to all our midwives on this special day — not only for the care and support you give to families, but for the way you support each other. That’s what has made maternity such a special place to work for so long.”
From air hostess to specialist midwife: sharing her story on International day of the Midwife
Now a specialist midwife, Karen says her career change was inspired by her own experiences of maternity care at Blackpool Teaching Hospitals. Karen said: “My three boys were born here in Blackpool, and now I work alongside the incredible midwives who delivered them and first inspired me. I found this passion for caring for women, and it just felt right.”
This International Day of the Midwife, Karen is proudly sharing details of her new role as Antenatal Newborn Screening and Fetal Medicine Lead for Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
Before taking up her new post in January this year, Karen spent eight years working as a rotational midwife, gaining experience across the delivery suite, maternity ward and community settings.
In her specialist role, Karen is often the first point of contact for families who receive a high‑risk screening result, supporting them throughout their care journey.
Karen explained: “When a family receives a high‑risk screening result, it can be a daunting experience and may involve several different care pathways. Our team works closely with families to ensure they feel supported, informed and able to understand their options at what can be a very difficult time.”
Working to improve the experience for pregnant women with cancer
This International Day of the Midwife, we’re highlighting how the role of midwives goes far beyond delivering babies — supporting people with a wide range of conditions, backgrounds and complex needs.
Sadly, more women are being diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy, and Michelle is working alongside oncology teams to bring together tailored support for midwives, clinicians and patients.
This work aims to improve understanding, coordination of care and the overall experience for women at an incredibly challenging time. Michelle said: “After a lady has finished her oncology treatment, I’ll often meet her and have a listen to baby's heartbeat or organise a scan for reassurance. It offers reassurance, but it also means she leaves with a positive moment and a happy memory alongside what can otherwise be a very difficult experience.
“We are still developing guidelines and working with specialists across the region. For me, it doesn’t matter where you live — everyone deserves the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”
Alongside supporting women diagnosed with cancer during pregnancy, Michelle also cares for women with other high‑risk conditions, including diabetes, epilepsy, liver problems and cardiac conditions. She explained: “I work as part of a full multidisciplinary team to create a personalised care plan for each woman. That means making sure they’re on the right pathway, receiving the appropriate scans, and getting the extra advice and support they need based on their condition.”
International Day of the Midwife: Caring in the community
Since qualifying in 2022, Donna has since delivered half a dozen babies in people’s homes. She said: “I love being a community midwife. You really get to build strong relationships with families, provide continuity of care for women and stay in regular contact. You genuinely go on the whole journey with them.”
Working in the community, Donna supports women and families throughout pregnancy and beyond. She explained: “In my role, I run antenatal clinics, carry out postnatal visits, complete baby heel‑prick tests and support women and their families right through pregnancy and into parenthood.”
Donna also shared some advice for anyone reading this, who like her is inspired to take up a career in midwifery. She said: “Absolutely go for it, it is a great career, you need to be quite strong of character, it is very rewarding … exhausting at times but just the best thing ever.”
